Reflecting on the decision made for Jesus Christ

The last point of the signs that genuine faith is neither prove nor disprove is the decision made for Jesus Christ.

At all times there were people who thought, that they had opted for Jesus Christ. But by the way of her life, could nobody this recognize. That was then, as now, the fact that them a false Jesus, were taught. Just think back on the time of the Crusades. All the knights who participated in it, thought on behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ to fight, in fact, she only followed the call of power-hungry princes of the Church of their time.

Today, people go to great pop concerts with video wall and lighting effects, where additionally, but deliberately the alleged word of God is proclaimed. In this emotionally fuelled atmosphere, go all who were invited to come, in an ecstasy forwardly, to handed over, to a Jesus Christ, how does not exist in this type. Clever advertising strategists have especially for these so-called evangelistic campaigns invented a Gospel light, so that they can present to record-breaking numbers of supposedly newly rescued souls. After that time nobody does preach the pure Gospel, that the newly recruited not scare. Should such a person once read the Bible and ask shocked, then will someone explain that much of the Bible is not date anymore, and he has nothing to worry about. There are even today priests and theologians (Scribes and Pharisees), who lead the people astray.

Given these findings, I wonder how many Christians there would be actually, if you would preach and teach the Gospel today, how it's done Jesus Christ at his first coming?

Jesus Christ tells us in Luke 8, 13 - 14 why a decision made for him is not proof of genuine faith. He says: "Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature."

We see, not the decision demonstrates the true faith, only the fruit, which means how someone who has chosen Jesus, live ​​his life. However, in order to bear fruit you should know that Jesus Christ himself has said that the entire Bible is valid forever. Only those who know the word of God, so the Bible can also bring fruit.

Let no one deceive you, because God's Word has not changed. God's holy day is still Sabbath and God's festivals are just those which he has decreed. The new covenant, which as many as an excuse, is another covenant of God with the children of Israel, who just does not abolish the feasts of the Lord, or other celebrations used.

If you decide you for Jesus Christ, you should know exactly for whom they choose. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who will establish his kingdom at his second coming. His day of the Lord will be the Sabbath, its feasts will be the feasts of the Lord and His laws will be the laws and commandments of God.

No one should think that Jesus will set up a kingdom without laws, for the Lord is not an anarchist.

In the second part of my series, I'll make my thoughts on the safe signs of genuine faith.

The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name— he is holy. The King is mighty, he loves justice— you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy. Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the Lord and he answered them. He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them. O Lord our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy. Amen

(Psalm 99, 1-9)

Where are we going?

With this post I would like interrupt shortly my series of the signs who genuine faith neither prove nor disprove. This time I will tell what I have seen during my holiday in Majorca and why it made me very sad and thoughtful.

It's not, that me the vacation had not fallen. No I find this is a very beautiful island.  I also had repeated opportunities to read at the beach in my favourite book, the Bible. But it was God's will that I should consciously perceive something quite different.

Like many of my friends and readers know, it was a gift from God, that my wife and I were able to afford this vacation ever. But there was only enough for a two star hotel in El Areal. That in my opinion this hotel does not deserve this two star, does not matter here, because I am to God infinitely grateful that we this holiday have had abroad.

Of course, such a hotel just only visit from people, who are not doing so well financially. During my stay, there were some young families from Russia and many, many young people from Germany, Austria, Holland and England. With these young people aged around 16-23 years, now the Story begins, what wanted God, to make aware me.

To the first, I want to say that I like young people, since they are our future.  However, I have learned, in the eight days in Mallorca the favourite pastimes in holiday of young people and that it was what makes me sad, but also very thoughtful. For about 90% of young people from this hotel, the favourite pastimes in holiday was alcohol, party, sex, and Randal!

Every day the same routine: On seven o clock in the morning they went to bed. Against two o clock in the afternoon they went to the beach, only to drink from a bucket full of alcoholic beverages through a straw. Six o clock in the evening, ​​fast back to the hotel to shower and get out on the road, of course, again with plenty of alcohol in their luggage. Finally, against ten o clock in the evening quickly attracted the evening clothing and down to the next party.

I saw many girls under twenty years, clothed with t-shirts, printed with requests for sexual favours. Also I saw, Scuffles between young boys. Damaged cars - street lights - outdoor dining equipment - and hotel room doors. Every morning very much broken glass on the streets, and workers who worked from seven o clock in the morning, to remove this garbage from the streets. One morning I also saw that a drunk young girl (about 16 years old) was in the hotel lobby, to sleep off their intoxication with bared genitalia at sofa.

I think it's bad enough that this all did not bother anyone. On the contrary, there is even a line of business, of the young people on the beaches of Majorca, sell the various party’s at very high prices. Yes, with the price for such a party certainly could a family cover their livelihood for one week!

After God recognize me so aware gave all this things, I imagine me now a lot of questions!

Where moves humanity? Who has the young people learned these values? How these young people have been educated? Is it necessary to be shown in today's movies and media alcohol, drugs, sex and violence to the last detail and even glorified? Why do young girls make themselves to be sex objects? And many more.

I remember a time when I was a child and teenager, we had to obey our parents. If I disobeyed once, I was beaten of my parents, as their final consequence. Disobedience in school was punished with blows of teachers, as their final consequence. Today, however, it is so that parents and teachers which use corporal punishment, will be displayed for assault! It will totally forget that God Himself has commanded the corporal punishment for disobedience. I can still remember me very well on a religious education, in which a classmate of mine asked the teacher, whether his parents do not love him, because he was never punished. This episode therefore stuck in my memory because this fellow was involved in a heavy robbery with 21 years!

It seems to me that many people have simply forgotten that God also is a punishing God. The modern image of God has been so distorted, that no one more really fears God.

One of the results, of this not more be afraid of God, has made me aware our youth during my holiday in Majorca. God led the people of Sodom and Gomorrah severely punished. But I think these people would be shocked, about the favourite pastimes in holiday of today's youth. But our modern society accepted it and believes it is good.

I think that the time has come to rethink again the modern bringing up children.

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1, 1-7)

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. (Proverbs 3, 1-12)

Reflecting on active duty

The fourth point of the signs the true faith neither prove nor disprove is active service.

In Wikipedia I found the following explanations of words: "Being active be called working" And  " the Service is fulfilling a religious duty. "  (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dienst)

Thus the active service is, to act in the fulfillment of a religious duty. We already recognize from the definition the reason, why so active service can not be evidence to prove or disprove true faith. In all religions, there are people, the actively engaged in the performance of religious duties. So will be found today in all Christian denotations religious rites and forms of worship, which God had never desired.

The Bible is filled with warnings against false active service, and yet we experiencing are today these false service. Thus we read in Jeremiah 27, 15: "I have not sent them,’ declares the Lord. ‘They are prophesying lies in my name. Therefore, I will banish you and you will perish, both you and the prophets who prophesy to you."

Here we see very clearly that God is not only punish the false teachers and prophets, but also every person who believes these doctrines. Which in turn shows us, how important it is the Word of God to know exactly.

So also the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 3, 5 wrote: "having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."

So you see that neither religious rites nor the belonging to a church, can save you. Only the true faith on the real Jesus Christ can save you. That is the Jesus Christ the we only can find in the Bible. Here alone you can get to know him, as he really is and learn from him. It is our Lord Jesus Christ himself the in Matthew 7, 21 - 23 urgently warns: "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"

We know as he spoke these words, this he does not spoke to the gentiles and the unbelievin. He spoke these words to people who her whole life have thought, to know the real Jesus Christ. In fact, they were seduced by false teachers and prophets. So are they all lost, because they have failed to know the Word of God. They did not test with the Bible every doctrine the they have heard. For this reason the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans in Chapter 2, 13 - 14: "For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law,"

Especially today where so many which perform active service  are guilty  fornication with children and child abuse and of the churches and their servants still protected; every one must recognize, that they can not be employed by God. Anyone who reads the Bible must also see that the worship and the festivals which are today be held have nothing to do with God or Jesus Christ. It is preserved only the form of godliness. But the rules are of men and not of God!

But there is indifference among the faithful, and no one is afraid of the many warnings of God which He has revealed to us in the Bible. Be certainly, at the day of the judgment of the Lord it will be too late! I think the Apostle Paul is right, as he wrote in 2.Timothy 2, 19: "Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

God gave us free will. We must decide for themselves. But we should not forget that we can opt either for him or against him. An intermediate does not exist.

God bless you! Shalom

God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the “gods”:  “How long will youa defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Selah  Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. “They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. “I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’ But you will die like mere men; you will fall like every other ruler.” Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance. Amen

 (Psalm 82,1-8)

Thinking about religious commitment

The third point of the signs that genuine faith is neither prove nor disprove is religious commitment. Here we should first inform about the importance from the words religious and commitment.

I found in the dictionary: "religiosity refers to the different types of beliefs and their expression."
And the declaration to commitment: "intense personal commitment to a cause."

Religious commitment is the intense personal commitment of a person belonging to his attitude of faith and his rituals to this attitude of faith include.

It is clear, that this can give the genuine faith neither prove nor disprove. As we all know, there are exist in all faiths  People with an intense personal commitment, to occur for their beliefs. But any true follower of Jesus Christ also know, there is only one true faith - the faith in Jesus Christ.

A very nice example of this provides us Jesus Christ in Matthew 25: 1 - 10 with the following parable: “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.“

All ten virgins were with intense personal involvement in the matter of their faith. However, five of them believed the oil in the lamps would be enough, while the other five had faith even to require additional oil for the lamps. But only the five virgins, who give their intense personal commitment to the true faith, reached in the end their aim and were allowed to enter with Jesus Christ in the kingdom of heaven.

We see again how important it is to know the Bible, and study God's Word itself and with much prayer. Check everything you hear in your religious community on the everlasting Word of God. Only then can you decide the right path for you. Always remember that Satan as the Lord of this world not openly fighting against religions and churches. Satan changed the gospel of Christ, because even as he tempted Jesus in the desert, he just twisted God's word.

 

Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy. Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from that noisy crowd of evildoers. They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent man; they shoot at him suddenly, without fear. They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see thema?” They plot injustice and say, “We have devised a perfect plan!” Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning. But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be struck down. He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn. All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done. Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him! Amen
(Psalm 64,1-10)